Hello, I am a new border collie mom and new to this site.
I have tried everything in my power to get help, advice, training and mostly advice. I recently lost my amazing little chihuahua mix to prostate cancer and it was very sudden, so sudden my reaction was to get a new baby to coddle.
Let me just say; I know it was a huge transition from one small dog to a high energetic border collie, her name is poppy and she is a year and 2 months 26 days. Iíve had her in my life for only just a few days not even a whole week. And yet she had me on my hind and I barely get enough sleep and canít sleep in long enough to recover from it.
I take her on 5 walks a day ranging from 30 minuets close to an hour and spent a fourtune joining a training group with online books.
The reason for making this so long is because I have fallen in love with a hurricane I can not control with out feeling powerless, sheís a great listener and very good at wanting to learn. The advice Iím looking for is, I may not have what it takes to keep her happy as a border collie puppy, but I have the heart for it, Iíve been crying on the daily for the past 3 days and Iím up all night afraid of what will happen while Iím at work (I work at a doggy day care) I am going to be taking her to work with me, but is that enough for her? She doesnít have much of a yard to play in, and my little dogs donít like to play. Iím afraid of her jumping the fence and then I really do have to get rid of her. If she jumps the fence sheís not happy or just trying to catch a squirrel.
Everything Iím worried about is for HER happiness HER well being and just HER not me. Iím okay with being tired but is it all really worth it for HER? I know there will be someone out there that can give me advice, and relate to the internet, and research Iíve tried to do.
I am more than willing to be the mom to my border collie, I just want to get this stress off my shoulders so I can really be more than confident that I am doing the right things. Please. I love my Poppy, and I think she loves me too, but is she really happy?

Comments

to the forum! You have created a blog, but in general if you seek the advice and companionship of other members it would be better to start a thread on the forum. That is more likely to attract their attention.

I suggest that you go to the dog section of the forum - perhaps dog chat or dog behaviour - and start a thread there. To save time, you could copy the text you have written here and paste it into your thread.

Border collies are very energetic and intelligent dogs. They need good training and lots of exercise. The fact that your Poppy is still young makes those issues even more important.

Probably taking her to work with you might help her to socialise with other dogs (has she been neutered, by the way?). Are there exercise facilities at the place where you work?

There are other issues - the fencing, etc. I will reply in more detail when you have started a new thread in the dog section of the forum.

Also, please also start a new thread in the introductions section and tell members all about yourself and Poppy.

I feel for you. I know Border Collies. They have my utmost love, humour and respect, but they are hard work as "pets".
Naturally these are working dogs. They are outside types, who could easily run for hours, then eat, have a quick rest, and run for hours again. They have tremendous stamina. Besides that, they can become very unbalanced if they don't get the correct mental stimulus, as they are highly intelligent.
Unless someone knows exactly what they need and can provide it, they do not make very good "pets", although they are the most wonderful dogs with deeply loyal and loving characters.
If a Border Collie doesn't have a misson -i.e. some constructive work to do on a general basis, and doesn't have good (kindly but firm) discipline, he/she can run amok.

You need to talk to a farmer who works with them. But it would be important to find the right person of course. Some farmers train up their dogs for good work, yet treat them like farm equipment.
I don't know....is there a specific Border Collie forum?